Hebrew and English Bible, containing the Pentateuch, Historical Parts, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the Twelve Minor Prophets, and the Hagiography, in Hebrew, with a new Translation, under the supervision of the Chief Rabbi
London : Various publishers, 1852-61
8vo.,
richly bound in morocco extra, gilt edges
4 thick vols.
4
English, Hebrew
£3.
10s.
S057.2; V12.13; C009.09
I4
Library, bookcases facing door, item 13
On a separate leaf is the following inscription: 'Presented to Charles Dickens, Esq., in grateful and admiring recognition of his having exercised the noblest quality man can possess; that of atoning for an injury as soon as conscious of having inflicted it, by a Jewess. 6 February, 1867.'
Light is thrown upon the above inscription by the following remarks of John Forster, when speaking of 'Our Mutual Friend' (Life, ii. 362). 'The benevolent old Jew whom the author makes the unconscious agent of a rascal, was meant to wipe out a reproach against his Jew in Oliver Twist, as bringing dislike upon the religion of the race he belonged to.' In a Note he thus continues, 'On this reproach, from a Jewish lady whom he esteemed, he had written two years before: ''Fagin, in Oliver Twist, is a Jew, because it unfortunately was true, of the time to which that story refers, that that class of criminal almost invariably was a Jew. But surely no sensible man or woman of your persuasion can fail to observe - firstly, that all the rest of the wicked dramatis personæ are Christians; and secondly, that he is called 'The Jew,' not because of his religion, but because of his race.'' '
Light is thrown upon the above inscription by the following remarks of John Forster, when speaking of 'Our Mutual Friend' (Life, ii. 362). 'The benevolent old Jew whom the author makes the unconscious agent of a rascal, was meant to wipe out a reproach against his Jew in Oliver Twist, as bringing dislike upon the religion of the race he belonged to.' In a Note he thus continues, 'On this reproach, from a Jewish lady whom he esteemed, he had written two years before: ''Fagin, in Oliver Twist, is a Jew, because it unfortunately was true, of the time to which that story refers, that that class of criminal almost invariably was a Jew. But surely no sensible man or woman of your persuasion can fail to observe - firstly, that all the rest of the wicked dramatis personæ are Christians; and secondly, that he is called 'The Jew,' not because of his religion, but because of his race.'' '